Renault Symbioz Hybrid SUV Set For Europe Market
The Renault Symbioz carries the spirit of the Renault 16 and the genes of the Renault Captur.
French carmaker Renault has unveiled an all-new vehicle for the European market called the Symbioz. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because it was used for a completely unrelated concept car from 2017. The concept previewed a fully-electric, fully-autonomous and fully-connected vehicle, but what we got was a semi-electric, semi-autonomous and “fully”-connected vehicle. Let’s dive into the details to understand what this Eurocentric crossover is all about.
The Symbioz is aimed at two groups – families looking for space and efficiency in a modular and contemporary design and fleet operators looking for a cheap-to-run hybrid. It is larger than the latest Captur but smaller than the Austral. It features the brand’s full suite of technologies including OpenR Link with Google built-in, a electro-chromic sunroof, 29 driving aids, and an E-Tech powertrain.
It sits on an extended B-segment platform, the CMF-B with a rear bench that slides to expand boot space from the default 492L to 624L. With the back seats folded down, cargo carrying capacity expands to 1582L. Practicality was a primary objective of this car, so the designers carved out 24.7L of storage space in the cabin itself.
The E-Tech 145 powertrain consists of a 1.6L 4-cylinder petrol engine with an 18kW High Voltage Starter Generator and a 36kW e-motor. The multimode gearbox has 4 gears for the petrol engine and 2 gears for the traction motor, allowing for 14 different combinations for optimum fuel efficiency. It always starts in electric mode and remains emissions-free for up to 80% of typical city driving times. On highways, the petrol engine can drive the wheels directly.
The OpenR Link infotainment system is based on Android Automotive 12 and comes with smart Google functions. The vehicle uses Google Maps data with regard to topography, travel time and traffic to help determine when to use petrol or electric power. It runs on a 10.4″ vertical touchscreen while the driver gets a 10.3″ display for instrumentation. An optional Harmon Kardon 9-speaker sound system is available with five equalizer presets.
All-in-all, the Renault Symbioz is a largely practical entry into the range and looks a bit too focused on European market needs to be a viable export product. Then again, the Malaysian Captur due a replacement and this larger and more practical SUV could fit the bill.
About the Author
Subhash Nair Written work on dsf.my. @subhashtag on instagram. Autophiles Malaysia on Youtube.
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